2008 La Posta Cocina Blend

This is another wine consumed between Christmas and New Year's. I believe we had this wine with empanadas stuffed with mildly spicy beef. The blend is 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarcha, and 20% Syrah from Mendoza Argentina. I believe this was a substitute offered by the staff at Total Wines when the Malbec I requested was unavailable. I can't be sure of the price, but I believe it was about $10. The color was a dark inky purple-garnet. On the nose there was blackberry and a little smoke. The flavor profile was blackberry and dark cherry with licorice on the finish. It was silky with soft tannins that actually became firmer as it opened. This is a good example of the hidden gems that are available at an affordable price if you just hunt around and take advantage of the sales staff's knowledge.

Notre Vin Maison (Our House Wine), red blend Quebec

Hello, everyone! Tonight I am enjoying a little red wine from the local Quebec region. No year, as in the previous wine. Perhaps this is not required in Canada? This is a very unpretentious wine from Rougemont, which is just across the river from Montreal and just North of Vermont. It was somewhat aromatically challenged with light aromas of strawberry, blueberry and raspberry. The taste is similar with no complicating additional flavors. In fact, it is very reminiscent of Lambrusco, but without the bubbles. This is a very light ruby red wine that could be served with fish or chicken dishes. It drinks much like a rose, being lighter in body than almost any pinot noir. I'd actually prefer this to most roses. We had it with salads and cheese bread in the room the night before leaving Quebec. I had to more or less talk Al into buying a wine for tonight, as we're driving back to Knoxville tomorrow. So, since this was available in 500 ml bottles ($9) and was a local product, we decided to give it a try. As a person this would be like that simple guy at work, solid and pleasant enough, but not the deepest thinker.
We also picked up some Ice Wine while in Canada. That will be blogged later when it is opened and enjoyed.

Big Guy Red 2005 California Red blend

Hello!! I am now in Quebec, Canada and enjoying some truly beautiful scenery! Everyone here has been very kind, in spite of the fact that my French is pretty much non-existent. Tonight we arrived at our little condo and feasted on cheese, bread, apples and pears. The wine was pretty good with the aged goat cheese (a local product, reminiscent of a Spanish Manchego, but a little less sharp). This wine was a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Savignon, and Syrah. It was deep garnet in color, almost purple, and very dark. The nose was of red cherry, and oaky vanilla. The palate was much like the nose. This was an inoffensive, simple wine, with a rather simple flavor profile. I really was hoping for more. It was a 2005, so it had a little time to age, and I bought it on the recommendation of a friend whose palate I trust. Maybe it was me? Maybe it was the picnic type pairings? This wine just really didn't do anything special for either myself or Al. Having said that, I think it would be a nice wine to serve with beef or a pork tenderloin to guests who aren't big wine drinkers. It would be good with burgers. It had soft tannins and not too much acid and was fairly well balanced with an ok finish. I paid a little over $15 (maybe as much as $18?) at Campbell Station Wines. It just lacked complexity. I feel that in this price range, I can do better.